Or: How to emulate the real thing in a scale RC tank.

I often see video of RC tankers driving their tanks with the turret rotating left and right like the roving proboscis of a large elefant.
I would surmise that using the turret like this in the real world like a mobile observer's platform and/or using the gun's fixed telescope to scan the terrain would be rather tactically reckless. For example, if a target is spotted at 9 o'clock and the turret has already been spun around to 3 o'clock, then the situation is probably dire and the enemy may the advantage especially if the turret traversing mechanism is slow.
The tank commander should be the one, either using the periscopes or his own upper body (with binoculars), acting as the eyes of the tank.

I'm speaking mainly of older tanks, WWII era or any that may have had a slower power (or possibly manual) traverse mechanism.

I just don't think it is very realistic and in the way that scale RC aircraft events are judged on the basis of realistic scale flight, seeing tanks operate in a similarly realistic manner is also gratifying.

When I'm driving my tank about I try and keep my turret trained on a bush (or piece of furniture) anything that may be hiding an enemy tank or AT gun

Harq, Tanks travelled in groups usually and trained their turrets to the opposite sides so all avenues of attack were covered. This way they're more ready to fight then if all barrels were pointed forward. Basically the same way we were taught to patrol in the bush. Where's Bill? He'll know for sure!

Yeah like swath says they traveled in packs and had special formations so all views were covered eg like the shermans on kellies heroes when they attack the railway tunnel they cover each other and flank the enemy while keeping combat patterns which cover all possible threats around them.
Search Panzer Tactics on google and you will find some great formations that some armies have modded and still use today [8D]

The combat patterns, if I remember correctly, are usually called eschellon (for a squadron, slant line to the left or right of direction of march, tubes toward front and flank where enemy is expected) or chevron ( Platoon or greater, "V" pointed in direction of attack, provides forward coverage and coverage on both flanks). But tracks in attack do not move turrets unless to stand on target, for exactly the reasoning you cite.

Harq,

I think that the modern videos of the tank on march with the turret are showing off the computer assisted (controlled) targeting for fire on the fly systems. Much like the stuff you see on the History or Military History channel where the track 360's with the muzzel locked in a fixed direction (presumedly on a selected target).

As for the ground pounders, Yup, like Swath said, everybody kept weapons oriented to alternating flanks and held muzzel orientation until a threat was anounced. The only two guys sweeping with thier weapons were the point and the tail ( both sweeping away from the main group, kept down on the 'friendly fire' and frag incidents).

I don't know about now days, but in the M-60 days, when a track headed North, with the tube pointed, say, North East, was presented with a threat to the North, for example, the driver would just stomp on the brakes on the right and swerve the tank to the right until the TC had the tube roughly on target. That would present the track at a 45 degree headon to the target (more armor between thee and me) and quicker to stand the tube on target than waiting for the traverse. It also gave the grunts supporting the tank a broader cover against the threat.

I think I read it in Panzer Aces that Franz Bake found that the tank turned faster than the turret, it is so with these WWII rc tanks too.

Hello,

As many have posted and as I have read from my research;
Tank turrets are pointed in the direction that best suits that particular situation.
As stated tanks most often travel in groups and what formation the tanks travel in and what direction they point their barrels is based on here the expected threat is.

If the group is approaching a position were the opponent/threat is in a direction to the front and they expect little chance of being attached from the side they may form a battle-line, strait abreast with all guns pointing forward. With the battle-line looking like this: ( )

If the group is approaching a position were the opponent/threat is in a direction to the right and they expect little chance of being attached from the left side they may form an “echelon right” formation, with the tanks in a staggered formation with all guns pointing at 45 degrees right. With the battle-line looking like this: ( \ )

If the group is approaching a position were the opponent/threat is in a direction to the left and they expect little chance of being attached from the right side they may form an “echelon left” formation, with the tanks in a staggered formation with all guns pointing at 45 degrees left. With the battle-line looking like this: ( / )

If the group is approaching a position were the opponent/threat is in a direction to the front and they expect a chance of being attached from both sides and their objective is to punch through and engage the rear command and supply system they may form a battle formation referred to as “Spearhead”, The tanks in the center are in the lead with their guns pointed forward and the side tanks are staggered with their guns pointed to the side.
With the battle-line looking like this: ( ^ )

If the group is on patrol and can expect an attack from any direction they may form a “diamond formation” with the lead tank’s guns pointing forward, the side tank’s guns point to their respective side and the rear tank’ guns point rearward. With the battle-line looking like this: ( <> )


I hope this helps answer some questions.


Kevin

Sorry, it seems that the shape I put in did not post for the strait line - ( - ) in my first post.

Kevin

I considered asking if any of you fought IR RC tank battles that way, i.e., in formations with turrets pointing at the most likely direction of a threat. But the question is totally unnecessary since RC tank drivers have the utmost advantage in being able to see the whole battlefield and has an idea where most of the threats are anyway. If only one could fight from the turret's perspective, 6 to 8 inches off the ground, albeit in a practical manner. Maybe the technology is already available for us to be using wireless micro video cameras and video monitors to put the RC operator at scale eye level in order that "echelon right", "echelon left" and so forth could be put into actual practice.

As feasible as all this is, is it practical? From a monetary standpoint, probably not.

How many of you fight in formations or "tank platoons" right now? Or is it invariably the Lone Wolf scenario, every (Axis or Allied) tank for itself?

TIGER76: That was an interesting side note about the realistic tactics in Kelly's Heroes. I do recall Oddball saying something along the lines of "you take the left flank, you take the right and I'll go down the slot". Then they proceeded to tear up the rail yard to the tune of "I've been working on the railroad". One of the best all-around tank movies regardless of the absurdity.